The Nepalese journalist reports that the crowd is acting out of control.
The Nepalese journalist reports that the crowd is acting out of control.
By Özgür Altınbaş
Protests that erupted in Nepal, a Southeast Asian country, have escalated into violent clashes. At least 19 people have been killed. The parliament building was set on fire. Protesters targeted government ministers. Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel called for restraint and dialogue. Nepali journalist Rajaram Gautam evaluated the situation. Gautam noted that on the first day, most of the protesters were young people, but on the second day, the acts of violence were not limited to the youth, and people in their 30s and 40s also joined the protests.
“The gap between rulers and the people has grown”
Gautam said that the main underlying issue in Nepal is the young generation’s frustration and hopelessness toward the main leadership of political parties. “This generation has been expressing its anger over growing corruption, lack of access to basic services, and the widening economic gap between leaders and the people through social media,” said the Nepali journalist. “At the same time, the government banned around 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, on the grounds that they were not officially registered according to Nepalese law. The anger that erupted among the younger generation later turned into violent protests,” he added.
“Infiltrations occurred, a call for withdrawal was made”
Gautam stated that the protests in Nepal seemingly lack a clear leadership. Commenting on the events, the Nepali journalist said, “It gives the impression that there are hidden agendas at play. Because after the protests turned violent on the first day, some figures known as representatives of the youth movement called for withdrawal, claiming there had been infiltrations. However, the movement did not stop. On the first day, around 20 protesters were killed. On the second day, the security administration did not take strict measures. That day, dozens of leaders’ homes, public buildings, and all kinds of state and private properties, including the Presidential Palace, were set on fire. It is still unclear who is involved. However, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Sah, who is already associated with the younger generation, announced that he supports the movement.”
“Possibility of foreign intelligence involvement”
Although there is no concrete information, Gautam did not rule out the possibility that regional powers may be inciting the protests. “There is no solid evidence, but there may be a role of regional powers that want controlled instability in Nepal’s domestic politics,” said journalist Gautam. “I don’t have any proof to name these countries, but there could be invisible intelligence agencies constantly manipulating Nepalese politics,” he warned.
Recalling that the United Nations and the European Union have called for restraint regarding the protests, the Nepali journalist said, “India, on the other hand, has issued a statement saying it is monitoring the situation.”
“Lack of leadership is leading to chaos”
Gautam stated that the current course of events is marked by uncertainty and confusion. He emphasized that the crowd is acting out of control, adding, “Due to the lack of leadership, the protests are turning into chaos. People are in fear and panic. Government buildings are being set on fire, civilians’ homes are being burned, and attacks are being carried out against former party leaders. Meanwhile, although the Presidential Palace was set ablaze, the President has called for dialogue with the protesters and Mayor Balen Sah. However, the situation remains uncertain, and the security threat is increasing, as he also stated that he would not engage in dialogue unless Parliament is dissolved.”